Against All Odds

Chapter Fifty Eight : Forgiveness may be expensive

The heavens had darkened as though it was nightfall,the wind howled and Obi could see the chaotic state the people they sped by were in. A woman had been chasing her umbrella which the wind blew away from her hand. Few men and children on the road ran like their lives depended on it. Obi could hear the children scream

"Mmiri a biala o, Rain has come " as they sought shelter under trees.

Tobe's eyes were fixed on his phone while the girls slept
peacefully. Chioma also slept while they journeyed to the village. Obi had wanted to come with her children but Funmi had agreed to take care of them while she sought herself out. It had been a week after Benjamin's illness and he assured Obi that he would be alright. He felt Obi needed to answer a call at home, the call that would go a long way in bringing her closure.

The driver chewed a gum and entertained himself with a Playlist of a native song. Obi wished she could sleep like the girls and Chioma, but sleep refused to greet her eyes. Obiefune who at first wanted to go with them somehow also decided to stay back and help with the children. He also promised to take care of Benjamin and mma so Obi's husband advised that he move in to the house upon his wife's absence.

The first drop of rain hit the windshield of the car followed by another and within a matter of minutes, the rain splattered continuously on every part of the vehicle. The driver wound up the side windows of the car to prevent the water from entering the moving vehicle. Obi tried to peek out of the car but it became too translucent for her to see what was happening.
She focused her attention on the two windshield wipers that moved simultaneously in front of the windscreen, squeaking as it wiped water away from the glass. The two objects stopped momentarily between each wipe and Obi wondered what would happen if their tips touched.

Tobe finally spoke to his sister after Obi suspected his phone went off. She didn't understand the fascination her siblings had for Android phones that kept their eyes glued to the screen all the time. Whenever she spoke about it, they all term her as old.

Obi wondered how funmi and Obiefune fared at home, the reception was already bad and she would have to wait till the rain subsides before calling to check on things.
Obiefune had practically rampagd the city in search of Achara tea and a herb he didn't even know for mma to chase mosquitoes.

The old woman had complained about mosquitoes and when Obiefune sprayed insecticide in her room she decided it was unsafe to sleep in. The squishing sound the container made convinced mma that the room was not conducive and she was hesitant to sleep there.

After coercing the old woman without any result Obiefune became exasperated, he thought of solutions and when he remembered how mma used to repel the blood sucking insects in the village he opted to suggest the same to her.

The problem was that he had no idea what herb mma used. After spending so many hours at a local market in search of herbs and Achara Tea with no results, Obiefune decided to purchase another herb a woman advertised to him.
Obiefune boiled the herb and presented to mma who grabbed the vessel filled with the liquid with a tremor racked hand and progressed to drink.

"Obiefune bịa skwa, ṅutu nwa o bere, come, have a taste " The old woman suggested and he hesitantly took a gulp of the liquid. Obiefune's face contorted and his lips squeazed together as the liquid moved from his mouth into his belly. He had never tasted Something as bitter as what he had consumed.

While pleading with his taste buds Obiefune waited for mma to reprimand him for feeding her something as bitter as that but instead she reached out and patted his head. Mma seemed to be enjoying the drink and for some reason it was not bitter to her. Funmi had prepared food for Obiefune and the boys and he knew the next thing to do was to fetch them from school.